Mizzou’s Memorial Gateway

Located on Elm Street at the south end of Eighth Street, Mizzou's Memorial Gateway, also known as the North Gateway, marks the main north entrance to Francis Quadrangle, which is where Academic Hall once stood. The right gate depicts a bronze portrait relief of James Sidney Rollins, considered to be the father of the university, and the left gate shows John Hiram Lathrop, the first president of the school.

A photograph of Memorial Gateway taken shortly after its construction in 1915.
(University Archives, C:22/8/5)

The Gateway was built in 1915 using funds received by the University from the Federal Government for damages inflicted on the campus by Federal Troops during the Civil War. From 1862-1865, Federal troops occupied the Mizzou campus, including Academic Hall and the President's residence. The Union Army used the library, which was then located in Academic Hall, as a guard room. The Quadrangle was used by the soldiers as corral space and stables.

During their stay, the soldiers caused considerable damage to the University and the Board of Curators, with James S. Rollins as their representative, sued for damages. Decades later Mizzou was finally awarded a total of $4,060, of which $1,110 was to replace 467 library books burned by the soldiers to construct fires. The original cornerstone from Mizzou's old Academic Hall was incorporated into the west pillar of the gateway but has since been removed and placed on display in the rotunda of Jesse Hall.

Sources:

Columbia Historic Preservation Commission
MU in Brick and Mortar, University of Missouri Archives
Como Magazine, 1 September 2013, “University of Missouri Gates”

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